Resident Doctors Give Federal Government Fresh 24-hour Ultimatum, Mull Nationwide Strike Friday

The Nigerian Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) may embark on a nationwide warning strike from Friday, September 12, as it issued a fresh 24-hour ultimatum to the federal government, following the expiration of it earlier 10-day ultimatum.

The decision was reached at the end of NARD’s Extraordinary National Executive Council (E-NEC) meeting held on Wednesday, September 10, and concluded in the early hours of Thursday, where members unanimously resolved to down tools.

NARD noted that it had earlier issued a 10-day ultimatum to the federal government and relevant authorities, which expired on Wednesday without meaningful action. The association recalled that in July, it had given a three-week ultimatum but extended it to allow for further dialogue, efforts it said yielded no results.

Top among its grievances were the non-payment of the 2025 Medical Residency Training Fund (MRTF), outstanding five months’ salary arrears from the 25/35 per cent CONMESS review, and other unpaid entitlements.

The doctors also decried the non-payment of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance, the withholding of membership certificates by the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria (NPMCN), and the downgrading of West African Colleges of Physicians and Surgeons certificates by the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN).

At the state level, NARD faulted the Kaduna State Government for failing to honour agreements with doctors at Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital, and the Oyo State Government for neglecting welfare issues at LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomosho, where doctors remain on indefinite strike.

The association reiterated its demands, including: immediate payment of the 2025 MRTF and five months’ CONMESS arrears, settlement of all outstanding salary arrears, payment of the 2024 Accoutrement Allowance and commencement of specialist allowance payments to all doctors.

Others include restoration of recognition for West African postgraduate certificates by the MDCN, issuance of membership certificates by NPMCN without delay, full implementation of the 2024 CONMESS in Kaduna State and urgent resolution of doctors’ welfare concerns in Oyo State.

NARD stressed that state governments must prioritise the welfare of doctors in training institutions and hospitals to curb brain drain and ensure industrial harmony.